Investment call for new high school

TWO senior political figures have urged city education chiefs to demand investment from the Scottish Government in a new Castlebrae High School.

Lothians MSP Kezia Dugdale and Edinburgh East MP Sheila Gilmore issued their call in a jointly-written letter to council leader Andrew Burns.

The call comes after councillors last month saved Castlebrae’s current building from closure in an 11th-hour U-turn, amid continuing uncertainty over construction of replacement premises.

In their letter, Ms Dugdale and Ms Gilmore state: “We appreciate that full funding has not yet been allocated but would hope that the council will approach the Scottish Government to include this project in any programme of capital investment coming on stream.”

Council chiefs said the need for a replacement school had already been flagged to ministers.

Education leader Paul Godzik said: “We will continue to discuss with them funding for this project and others as part of our continued commitment to give our children the best start in life.”